Combination casing head and christmas tree



May 24, 1 938. J M MCDONOUGH ET AL 2,118,094

COMBINATION CASING HEAD AND CHRISTMAS TREE Patented May 24, 1938 PATENT GFFICIE'.l

COIWBINATION CASING HEAD AND CHRIST- MAS TREE

James Moore McDonough, Galveston, and Granville A. Humason, Houston, Tex.

Application April 12, 1937, Serial No. 136,240

13 Claims.

'Ihe invention relates to equipment for well heads and pertains particularly to the construe-- tion of the casing head and the pipe hangers supported therein.

In equipping the upper end of the well which is provided with a plurality of separate concentric strings of pipe, it is common to provide an outlet at the upper en'd of the Well which extends up a material distance above the well head and connect thereon a plurality of branching flow lines through which the fluid from the Well may W under control. 'Ihis structure of ow pipes connected with the upper end of the well is ordinarily called the christmas tree and is intended to provide a plurality of outlets for the fluid from the. Well, each of which outlets may be controlled by valves or otherwise. When the well is flowing under pressure it is diflicult, if not impossible, with the ordinary installation to repair the branch lines. When subjected to lateral strain as may be the case in a heavy 'storm some lines are broken or damaged by parts falling thereon and it becomes a diilcult problem to bring the well under control.,

It is an object of the invention to provide a series of ow lines in direct connection with the casing head itself thereby enabling the operator to protect the branch lines against damage.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a separate outlet for each of the concentric pipe strings extending laterally through the casing head.

A further object of the invention is to provide a well head comprising a casing head and a plurality of tubing hangers nested therein, the unit having a separate outlet from each of the pipe strings and transversely of the casing head independently of the relative rotational position of the casing head and the respective hangers.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a well head compact construction and which therefore extends but a short distance above the surface of the earth or, if desired, may be installed in the cellar whereby damage from exceive a plurality of hangers therein on a common taper, a single holddown serving to retain the casing head and hangers in a composite unit.

I Still another object is to provide a casing head within which is provided a plurality of intertting, intersealing hangers connected to concentric strings of tubing.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawing in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a well head embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan 'view showing the casing head plate which holds the assembly 1n a composite unit.

' Fig. 4 is an elevation of the casing head plate attached to the casing head.

Fig. 5 is a section on the, line 5-5 of Fig. 1 taken in the direction of the arrows.-

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the shut oii valve.

The several strings of casing I, 2, 3 and 4 are supported in concentricrelation by a series of tubing hangers 6, 'l and 8, which are arranged in concentric nesting relation, eachl of said hangers being connected to an individual string of tubing, The outermost member or casing head 5 comprises a tapered ring which is threadably secured to the casing l. 'I'his casing head may be provided with any suitable ange or ears, not shown, for attachment to supporting means to assist in supporting the strings attached there-- to and to resist other stresses to which the unit may be subjected. The casing head is co-extensive with the assembly comprising the tubing hangers 6, 1 and 8 and has radial flow lines 9, I0, Il and I2 attached to internally threaded bosses in the casing head walls. The inner wall I5 of the casing head is tapered to receive the tapered surfaces of the respective tubing hangers, while the upper face of the casing head is provided with a plurality of drilled and tapped openings to receive studs i6 which pass through openings in a casing head plate l1 secured in place thereon by nuts I8. The upper end of the casing head5 and the casing head plate l1 are provided with complementary grooves in which is seated a seal ring I9 to form a iluid tight joint between these members.

Seated Within the lower end of the casing head is a tubing hanger 6 threadably attached to the tubing string 2 above the internal threads 25. The hanger is provided with a tapered bore 26 to receive a tapered end portion of the next adjacent hanger. The outer surface of the hanger is grooved at 21 to provide a peripheral uid passage which communicates with radial passage 28 in the casing head and with one or more radial passages in the hanger 6. With this construction it is apparent t'nat it is unnecessary for passages 28 to be in mating relation with the iiow line I0. In order that the passage from. the annular space between the tubing strings 2 and 3 be sealed from adjacent spaces the hanger is also provided with peripheral grooves above and below, the groove 21 to receive packing rings 29. Above these packing rings is another peripheral groove 30 to receive the ends of set srews 3| which pass through the Wall of the casing head 5 and enter the groove to anchor the hanger in place.

To insure against leakage through the wall ofy the casing head 5 along set screws 3| the threaded opening through the wall is counter-bored to receive packing 33, as is best seen in Fig. 2,

' which illustrates a like construction on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. The packing 32 is compressed within the counter-bore about the set screws 3| by means of a nut 34 and gland 33, the 'packed joint thus serving also to lock the set screw in fixed position.

The -hanger 1 is similar to the hanger 6 but is provided with a reduced end section 40 and a packing ring 4| thereon to effect sealing engagement with the tapered surface 26 of the hanger 6. Packing rings are also provided on the peripheral surface of the hangerl above and below a fluid passage groove 42, which (similar to groove 21,in hangerv 6) serves as a passage for uid from the annular space between the tubing strings 3 and 4 through the radial passage 43 to the flow line As illustrated in Fig. 2 and as described in connection with the hanger 6, set screws 3| pass through the casing head 5 and into the groove 3l) to hold the hanger in position within the casing head.

'I'he hanger 1 extends to the top of the casing head 5 and presents a conical cavity at its upper end to receive hanger 8 attached to the tubing string 4. The upper end of the hanger 8 is reduced to provide a shoulder 45 contacting a complementary surface on lthe casing head plate |1 whereby hanger 8 is held in place and the assembly is generally strengthened. The reduced end 41 of the hanger 8 passes through the opening 49 in the casing head plate |1 and is internally threaded to receive an upward extension as will be described. A peripheral groove 46 in the 'hanger provides a fluid passage to a flow line I2 from radial passage 48 in the same manner as was described in connection with hangers 6 and 1. It is to be understood, however, that uid in passing from the tubing 4 to the flow line t2 must pass radially through both of the hangers 1 and 8. Since a passage 48 may or may not be -in mating relation with the llow line I2 a second peripheral groove 44 is provided in the hanger 1 to serve as a passageway whereby the fluid from the tubing 4 may pass to :dow line I2 regardless of the angular position of either the hanger 1 or the hanger 8. v

The tubing string 4is connected to thc hanger 8 through an adapter bushing 50 having a tapered bore 5| adapted to receive a self-seating valve 52.

The cover plate I1 is of particular construction as may be seen in Figs. 4 and 3, and comprises complemental half sections 20 and 2| whereby the composite plate can be conveniently placed about the reduced end 41 of the hanger circular wall which forms` a portion of opening 49. Extending diametrically from opening 49 each section is reduced in thickness to form overlapping portions 23, each of which is provided with a tongue 24 to engage a complemental groove 25. One of the studs |6 passes through aligned' openings in each of overlapping portions 24. By means of this construction it is obvious that cover plate |1 `is so constructed that it is possible to install or remove the plate without disturbing the assembly secured to hanger 8 and at the same time without sacrifice of mechanical strength of the assembled unit.

It will be apparent that a compact, sturdy assembly has been provided in which all of the hangers have been enclosed in a single casing head body 5 which has the deep bowl construction with a single tapered face I5 upon which the several hangers are arranged to seat. When the cover plate |1 is affixed a solid unitary assembly is effected which is completely enclosed.

Attached to the threaded end section 41 of the hanger 8 is a gate valve 60 having an upward extension 6|. If it is desired for any reason to close the passage from tubing string 4 to ow line I2 a valve generally designated as 63 is attached to the upper end of the extension 6|. This valve comprises a. body'member 64 including an upward extension yoke 65 which is internally threaded at its upper end to receive a valve stem 66, to which is fixed a hand Wheel 61. At the lower end of the body 64 the valve stem 66 passes through an axial bore 68 provided with a bolted flange type stumng box having packing 69 held therein by gland 10 adjustably held in position by nuts 1| on studs 12 in the body 64.

In order for valve member 52 to be self-seating inthe valve seat 5| the connection between the valve stem 66 and valve 52 is provided as illustrated in Fig. 6. The valve stem 66 terminates at its lower end in a head 15 having a rounded end 16 toy be received by a. complemental surface in a. cavity 11 in the upper end of the valve member 52. A flanged collar 18 surrounds the valve stem 66 and is threadably fixed within the 'l'he length of this collar is insuillcavity 11. cient to rigidly hold the head 15 in contact with the bottom of the cavity. In this manner the valve member 52 may move both angularly and rotatably relative to the valve stem 66 whereby the valve 52 may assume a position for proper seating upon the seat 5| and at the same time rotation of the valve upon the valve seat will not occur during seating or unseating of the valve.

When it is desired to utilize the valve 63 to terminate flow from the well under pressure through the `flow line I2 the gate valve 60 is closed. The valve member 52 is moved to such position adjacent the lower end of the body 64 by turning the handwheel 61 that when the valve 63 is screwed into position on stem 6| the valve member 52 remains within the stem. It is thus obvious that in this manner the stem is closed to the ow of liquid from the Well. The lgate valve 60 is then opened by means of the handwheel 62 whereupon the valve 52 may be closed upon its seat by turning handwheel 61, thus closing the passage from the flow line 4.

From the foregoing description of the applicants preferred embodiment, the construction, operation and advantages-oi the present invention are believed to be apparent and will suggest other modications to those skilled in the lfor wells including a casing, a casing head secured at the upper end thereof, said casing head iiaring upwardly to provide an inner, down-` wardly tapered seat, a plurality of concentric f pipe hangers engaging at diierent levels within said seat, a string of pipe on each hanger, a separate outlet for each string-of pipe extending radially outwardly from the upper end of each pipe through the hanger therefor and through a separate opening in said casing head, and a iiow vpipe in each of said outlets.

2. A combined casing head and christmas tree for wells including a casing, a casing head secured at the upper end thereof, said casing head aring upwardly to provide an inner, downwardly tapered seat, a plurality of concentric pipe hangers engaging at successively higher levels within said scat, a string of pipe on each hanger, a separate outlet for each string of pipeextending radially outwardly from the upper end of each pipe through the hanger therefor and through a separate opening in said casing head,

separate means to anchor each hanger in position in said lcasing head, and a ow pipe in each of said outlets.

3. A well casing, a downwardly-tapered casing head thereon, a plurality of concentric strings of pipe inside said casing, separate hangers for said strings, each successive inner pipe being ex-` tended above the next adjacent outer one to terminate ata higher point, radial outlet at the upper end of each string extending/through its hanger and said casing head and 110W'` pipes connected with each outlet. r

4. A-well casing, a downwardly-tapered casing head thereon, a plurality of concentric strings of pipe inside said casing, separate hangers for said strings, each successive inner pipe being extended above the next adjacent outer one to terminate at a higher point, a radial outlet at the upper end of each string extending through its hanger and said casing head and flow pipes connected with each outlet, the innerof said pipes having an annular, upwardly presented shoulder and plates secured to said casing head and engaging said shoulder to anchor said hangers in position.

5. A well casing, a downwardly-tapered casing head thereon, a plurality of concentric strings of pipe inside said casing, separate hangers for said strings, each successive inner pipe being extended above the next adjacent outer one to terminate at a higher point, a radial outlet at the upper end of each string extending through its hanger and said casing head, separate means engaging each hanger with said casing head to anchor the hangers in said casing head, and iiow pipes connected with each outlet.

6. A combined casing headand christmas tree for wells including, Ateasing head for attachment to the casing, an upwardly-daring seat in said casing head, a plurality of concentric strings of pipe in said casing, a hanger on each string supported in said seat, a separate radial outlet from each hanger through said casing head, the inner of said pipes constituting the ilow line aria-co4 having a valve seat at the upper end thereof, and a valve movable to and from position to engage said Valve seat and close oi the flow from said ow line.

7. A combined casing head and christmas tree for wells including, a casing head for attachment to the casing, an upwardly-flaring seat in said casing head, a plurality of concentric strings of pipe in said casing, a hanger on each radial outlet from each hanger through said casing head, the inner of said pipes constituting the flow line having a valve seat at the upper end thereof, and a gate valve connected to the inner of said hangers, the body of said gate valve extending upwardly, means closing the upper end of said valve body, a valve rod extending downwardly through said closing means and said gate valve and a valve on said rod engageable in said valve seat.

8. A casing head, a plurality of separate concentric pipe hangers supported therein, pipes supported by said hangers, separate radial outlets from each hanger through said casing head, a valve seat in the inner of said hangers, a gate valve body extending upwardly from said inner hanger, a gate valve therein, a stuing box, a valve onsaid rod and means on said rod to move said valve to and from said seat.

9. A casing head, a plurality of concentric hangers supported therein, each of said hangers having a peripheral groove to form a fluid passage, a tubing string attached to each of said hangers and an outlet passage from each tub- 4ing string through said casing head, said passage including a radial passage hanger to said groove.-

10. A casing head, a plurality of concentric hangers nested within said casing head, a tubing string attached to each of said hangers, a valve seat at the upper end of the inner tubing, a flow line radially from said inner tubing and its associated hanger, a stufling box closing the upper end of said stem, va valve rod passing through said stuiling box, a valve on the lower end of said rod and means on said rod forv moving said valve to and from said seat.

l1. A casing head assembly comprisinga body,

from within the a tapered bowl therein, a plurality of hangers to be stacked in said bowl to engage the taper of said bowl, and a cap on' said body to engage the innermost of said hangers to clamp all of said hangers in sealing position in said bowl.

12. A casing head assembly comprising a body, a tapered bowl therein, a plurality of hangers to be stacked in said bowl 'to engage the taper of said bowl, a cap on said body to engage the innermost of said hangers to clamp all of Said hangers in sealing position in said bowl, and means to flow fluid laterally through each hanger and said head.

13. In a well head assembly, a casing head, a

set of nested casing hangers therein, each contacting with said head, a iiow passage laterally through two of said hangers and said head, a tubing hanger engaging within the uppermost casing hanger, an adapter bushing in said tub- 

